Question

Should I breastfeed or bottle-feed my baby?

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I know breast milk is best for my baby but the thought of nursing fills me with dread. I keep saying I'm planning to breastfeed but the closer I get to my due date, the more my anxiety grows. Meanwhile, the thought of bottle-feeding fills me with relief. Should I try to breastfeed or go with bottle-feeding?

Mom Answers

I do not want to nurse...I'm going to do it b/c I really can't afford to formula feed my baby, so I have decided to nurse for at least 3 months and see how it goes from there. I only have 6 weeks of leave and I am feeling really anxious about the prospect of working and pumping milk...I just feel like it will be extremely stressful. I'm already going into this as a single parent and I don't know if I'll be able to nurse for longer than 3 months. I think for my situation the right choice will be to nurse during my maternity leave, and then formula feed when I get back to work. I was formula fed and I was a ridiculously healthy baby, so I try not to let other ppl make me feel bad about not nursing for the first year.

I know exactly what you mean. This will be my first child and I feel the same way about breastfeeding. I know that it is the most healthy for the baby but formula is great too. The most frustrating thing is people criticizing you on what you want to do. My husband comes from a family who bf and I come from one that gave formula. So half of the time I'm getting told I. Need to bf or I won't be a good mom. But that isn't true at all.
At the end of the day its what you want to do not anybody elses. Do what's best for you. I just plan on getting some things for bf and stuff for formula too. The day I meet my little boy is when I'm going to decide.
Good luck to you

My son and I had a rough time right off the bat with breastfeeding. My letdown was so fast that the poor little guy was drowning and he'd end up swallowing a lot of air. There were a lot of frustrating times that he'd nurse for 45 minutes, then throw it all up when he was done because of the giant air bubble he'd sucked in. Because of these times and how we'd then have to give him formula because I was "empty", we knew that he was just happier with the bottle - he didn't throw up half as much (he was quite a pukey baby to begin with). Plus, he wanted to eat constantly, I swear. I felt like I'd just get my clothing back on, and he'd be fussing again. I remember that Easter, the family was out socializing in the living room and I was in the bedroom with Jacob for most of the time (I'm sorry, I just can't get used to the idea of having my boob out in front of my dad and uncles. I'm kind of private that way). After a month of breastfeeding I was beginning to resent Jacob for being SO demanding -it didn't feel like bonding, it felt like this tiny creature OWNED me. So we switched him to formula. And you know, the moment I saw my dad holding Jacob, and Jacob got fussy, and I handed Dad the bottle and the look on his face when he got to feed his grandson - that was the moment that I knew I'd made the right decision for us. I also found that it was sheer heaven to let my husband do the 7am feeding. I can get up at any ridiculous hour in the middle of the night, but I'm dead to the world between 6 and 7 in the morning. And then Mick could bond with his son before he headed to work every day; it worked well for everyone.
Now we're expecting our second child, and I don't plan to even attempt breastfeeding. However, I've read that formula is a pale comparison to breastmilk, that breastmilk is ALIVE and you just can't duplicate that. Formula and breastmilk are as different as looking at a picture of a rabbit, and holding a bunny in your hand. So I plan to get a high-quality breast pump (haven't decided on renting a pump or buying one) and perhaps supplement with formula, depending on what seems to work best for our baby. This way she can have still have her breast milk without the drowning/gasping for air involved with actual contact with my Niagara breasts! Hey, whatever works for you. That's my story.

You need to do what you are going to be most comfortable with. It seems that you might want to at least just try to BF or pumping for a few days or weeks and see how it goes, just because breastmilk is the superior option. You never know - you might not find it so bad. But if your anxiety gets worse or you feel like you can't go on with it, don't feel like you can't just give it up! There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you want to seek help with LLLI or lactation consultants, etc., do so. But don't feel like you absolutely have to put yourself through hell to BF if that's what it is for you. Formula is just fine and your baby will be just fine regardless of what you do. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your decision - whatever that may be. You are trying to do what is best for your baby - and what is best for your baby is to have a sane and happy mommy!!!

One of the really cool things about breastfeeding that you can't get from formula or even expressing is when you breastfeed there is something in your breast that will build immunities to whatever germs your baby has come in contact with. Not that your baby will never be sick, but you and the other people around can be sick as dogs and your baby will be totally healthy. Also, breastfeeding mothers are less stressed as your body releases hormones to calm you down as you breastfeed. So if fear of stressing the baby out due to your own stress is steering you clear of breastfeeding, have no worries. I'm expecting my first in June and am planning on breastfeeding, even though I'm going to be working full time in the Military. I've been doing some research and really do believe that breastfeeding is the best for my baby. There's a great book called "So that's what they're for" that has a lot of great info. Anyway, you can find it on Amazon.com.

Of course the choice is yours. I look at it like this: I am choosing the absolute best milk for my baby. If there were something better than breastmilk for my baby then I would choose that. They are only a baby for a short time. My husband gets to feed him too with milk that I've pumpled in bottles, plus Daddy gets bonding time with him in other ways, holding him, playing with him, bathing him. Feeding isn't the only way for Daddy and other family members to bond with baby. There are immune fighting properties in breastmilk that cannot be reproduced in formula either. All formula companies advertise in small writing on commercials and packaging that breastmilk is recommended as well. I love breastfeeding my baby boy and feel great knowing that there is absolutely nothing more nutritious in the world for him to eat/drink.

I have two children a two year old and a two month old. I bottle fed my first and I am exclusively breastfeeding my second. I have had the best of both worlds. The choice is always yours but I am glad I tried brestfeeding because now I know how great it is. At first it was very hard but after the first week or so it got better. Now when she cries at night I dont have to prepare any bottles, I just pop out my boob and feed her. Of coarse, families are different and it might not be the same, but it wouldnt hurt to try it right? Even one bf session would gie your baby antibodies. Hope this helps

You need to do whatever makes you comfortable and happy! Ibreastfed my daughter for 3.5 years, but I think formula feeding is a wonderful option for many reasons- more sleep and the opportunity for others to share in feeding the child are two big ones:) Just relax and know that whatever you decide it will be the right decision. How wonderful is that? There's no wrong decision.

Hey Ana - thanks - I do support bf'ing definitely and think it is good for the babies.. just sometimes you are in situations or family dynamics where bottle feeding works out better. Even though I bottle fed last time, I'm dedicated to bf'ing this time - mostly because of the financial reasons.. but also because I want to try something new.. .we'll see! Either way it turns out I just can't wait to meet my new little one!!!

I think that you should at least try breastfeeding. Any breastmilk that your child gets is great for them and provides many antibodies. Breastfeeding is a wonderful bonding experience and is very enjoyable. There are many benefits to breastfeeding and I think that you should speak to a lactation consultant about your concerns and be informed. Breastfeeding is so much easier than bottlefeeding once you have established a breastfeeding relationship. You don't have to carry around bottles, formula etc. Breastmilk is also easily digested and bfed babies don't spit up as much. The reasons that Amanda posted on breastfeeding are great reasons on why you should breastfeed. Good luck

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